Compression testing apparatus



Nov. 18, 1947. R. EKSERGIAN' COMPRESSION TESTING APPARATUS OriginalFiledlAiar il 24, 1941 5 Sheets-sheaf. l

INVENTOR Lon A TTORNE Y Nov. 18, 1947. R. EksERGlAN COMPRESSION TESTINGAPPARATUS Original Filed April 24, 1941 S ShetS-Sheet 2 IIYVENTORRuPenEksergiqn.

I ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1947. R. EK SERGlAN COMPRESSION TESTING APPARATUSori inal Filed April 24, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG/L MJIVVENTOR I R upenEksergidn. BY KM ATTORNEY Nov. 18, 1947. RLEKSIERGIAN 2,

COMPRESSION TESTINGAIPPARATUSQ Original Filed April 24, 1941 5Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR' Rupn Eksergian,

I ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 18, 1947 COMPRESSION TESTING APPARATUS RupenEksergian, Media, Pa, assignor to The Budd Company,.Philadelphia, Pa., acorporation ofPennsylvania Continuation of application-Serial"No.390,065,

April-24, 1941. This application July-27,1944,

Serial No. 546',772

This is a continuation of patentapplication Serial No. 39Q,065, fl1dApril 24, 1941.

The invention relatesto testing apparatus, and

more particularly tosuch apparatus designed for 12 Claims. (Cl. 73*94)structure to be tested, ,these pillars being .of-;a heightsomewhatgreater than. the height of the cars to be tested, andinterconnected attheirtops by longitudinal beams. Suitable meansare ,pro-

thetesting of large structuressuch as railway car 5 vided tobrace thepillars laterally so as to take body structures. the lateral reactionsincident to the transverse Apparatushas heretofore been devised for.testtesting of the structure. ing the compressionlstrength. ofcarbodies, for Between therows. of pillars is,,.arr,ange d;,a longinstance, in the, line of draft, but such. apparatus platform, normally.at. floor level, having. rails,,sehas been limited in the scope of itsapplication cured to it in line with rails. ot-a .trackwayexand hasnotfurnished'very extensive test data-by I tending from. the. outside, ofthe. plant, ,sothat-,ra which the car builder couldsupplement or checkrail car .may be readily moved.by.,a..switching the calculated stress inthe various parts of the engine or otherwise upon the testing platform.structure v,asaguide.. to future design. Nor has The mainv longitudinalcompression-testing masuch apparatus, as heretofore utilized, beensuffichine of theapparatus, may. comprise, a powerful ciently powerfulto exceed in substantial degree press, ,preferably a hydraulic press,cooperating the strength requirements as established by the with apowerful rectangular frame of. longitudinal R. M. S. (railway. mailservice) and ,the A. A. R. and lateral dimensions more than enough tore-(Association .of AmericanRailroads). ceive a car structure tobe.testedwithin its con- It is an object of the. inventionto overcome thefines, the sidemembers. of this. frame. comprising limitationsofpriorsuch test. apparatus and to heavy tension rods interconnected .bythe ,end provide a very, powerful testing apparatus capable members orabutment bars. or beams. The press of testing the car body structureunder longitucomprises, asusuaLtwomembersfor.exertinga dinalcompressioneither .as a .whole or .at-any thrustin opposite directionswhich are, vinthe level for the fullwidthof the body, or at any caseofahydraulicpress, formedbyacasing localized area of said width. includinga cylinder, and a plunger working in It is a further object.of-the.inventiontoprothe cylinder. Thepress has its .axis, of thrustvide an apparatus of this. class which is adapted generally, parallelingthe rods and in the plane of to readily test the car, body;structurebyalater .the rods normallymidway between them; It is allydirected force applied at different locations supported upona. solidplatform built up from in the height and lengthof thestructure, or bythe foundation withitsthrustaxis abovethe tops laterally directed.forcesapplied ata plurality of of the pillars. One ,end- .of therectangular. frame, locations simultaneously. including ,a transverseabutment beam of .the It is a further object of the inventiontoproframe, and the adjacent. ends of .thetension-rods vide a testingapparatusof thisclass which is are rigidly Supported bytheplatform,with.the readily adaptable for different-length structures beam inabuttingrelationto the; hydraulic press, or structures. of various typesdiffering from the Whilethe major portion of the lengths of the rodsusual railway car body structures. and the transverse. abutment beamremote. from It is a further objectof the inventiontoprothe pressaresupported by the .spacedrows of vide an apparatus of thisclasswhichenables the p llars ,andthe beams interconnfi i p car body tobe readilybrought .in-position for Theplatform supporting .thecarandthe-lontesting any particularpart orparts. orthewhole gitudinalcompression .machine Qare relatively car structure, as desired. movablevertically or at right angles to the, plane These objects are attainedin large. measure by of the frame, of the machine to bring any desiredbuilding the testapparatus upon a massive foun- 5 level of theobodyinlinewiththe.machine. The dation structure forming thefloorof the plantmeansforefiecting .suchrelativemovement may and constructing the lonitudinal compressioncompriseaplurality. ofvertical screws supportedtesting device as part and parcel of the structure in certain of ,thepillars in each :of -.the rows for taking the reactions from the lateralcompresthreaded, through brackets projecting. laterally of sion testing.According to the invention, the set- 5 theplatform, said screws beingpower-driven at up may comprise lateral parallel structures rising fromthefoundation structure and strongly, anchored thereto, these structurescomprising two rows of aligned spaced pillarsextending a length somewhatgreater than the'length of the longest the same speed to. liftfor lower.the platfor-mwhile maintaining it parallel'to its-successive positions.

In themain, these arethefeatures through which the objects aboveenumeratedzare attained, but, in the following detailed description,other g 3 and further objects and advantages and the means by which theyare attained will become apparent.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional elevation through the test apparatusof the invention and the building housing the same along line l'- l ofFig. 2; i

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus with the walls of the buildingstructure shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View through the building and theapparatus housed by it, the

' section being on an enlarged scale and taken substantially along line33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section similar to Fig. 1 on an enlarged scaleshowing more of the detail with the platform at a lower level thaninFig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View with parts broken away,showing the structure in the region of one of the platform-elevatingscrews;

'Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on, the line6+6 of Fig. 5,'looking in'the'directionof the arrows at the'ends of thesection line;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary "sectional plan view along the line '!1 of Fig.6, looking in the direction of the arrows; I

-Fig. 8 is; a detail fragmentary transverse sectional view through'oneofthe tension rods and the, supporting structuretherefor Fig.",9"'is afragmentary 1 longitudinal section showing the apparatusse't up to testa relatively short structure Fig 10' is 'a' fragmentary transversesection, taken in the same regionasFig; 3, through the apparatus showinga manner ofutilization of the apparatus for" testing the structureundertransverse loads; i I

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic part-sectional plan view showing the drive tothe elevating screws for raising and lowering the platform; and

Fig;-v 12 is an enlarged sectional view through a tension rod and aspacer member used in connectiontherewith, showing'the manner in whichthese spacer members may be readily lifted off or on the. tensionrodlbythe overhead crane.

In the drawings, the, invention is shown housed within a longnarrowbuilding, the walls 'of which are indicatedby l'llf and thefoundation or floor of which is indicated by H. One end of thebuilding-is provided witha doorway 12, through which the rails 13' of.a' trajckextendfrom the outside of the building to permit thebringing ofa carto] be tested to thetesting apparatus. 7

The testing apparatus may comprise, as shown,

two spaced parallel supporting structures, designated generally bythereference character M, which serve the dual function of carrying aportion of the weight of the longitudinal compression-testing machine,and also serve to take the reactions in testing a structure, such as arail car 1 body,generally'indicated at [5, for lateral compression; y

Each of these supl oortin g structures, l4 may comprise an inner seriesof'equally spaced pillars at 26 extend upwardly to and are securedrigidly to the longitudinal beams I1. As shown in Fig. 7, these pillarsare formed by two I-beams, and the longitudinal I-beams forming thebeams 11 are cut at these locations and secured together andto theI-beam s of the pollars by angular or other gussets. f

The tops of the supporting structures formed by the members IE, l1, l8and I9 are of an elevation from the floor approximately equal to theheight of the. car l5.

To enable these structures to take the lateral thrusts incident to thetransverse compression testing, they are braced to a series of lateralpillars 2 I flanking the adjacent lateral wall of the build- .ing andextending near the top of said Wall.

These lateral pillars 2| are connected by longitudinal beams 22 whichcarry tracks 23 for receiving an overhead traveling crane 24. Thepillars l6 and H! are braced to these pillars 21 by horizontal beams 25and diagonal braces 26. The beams 25 also serve to support thewalkwayi'l.

It will be noted that the supportingstructures at the opposite sides aresubstantially similar,

although one of them (as shown in Fig. 3, the one at the left) may bewider, and provide a'wider walkway and space for temporarily supportingthe parts of the test apparatus not in'use'l As previously pointed out,thecompression ma;

chine of the test apparatus is partly supported by the lateralsupporting structures It. In gen.-

era], the compression machine may comprise (see Fig. 2) a rectangularframg, designated generally by the numeral 28 and consisting, inthe'forrn' shown, of two spacedtension rods 29 intercon'e nected at oneend by a massive transverse abut ment beam 30 and, adjacentits'oppositeends,

by a similar beam 3|. 7 v

In addition to this main frame 28, the compression machine comprises apowerful hydraulic press, designated generally by the numeral 32, whichis supported from the foundation by a platform 33 raised a substantialdistance above the floor level. This platform is the operators controlstation, from which hecontrols the compression machine. The machine'isprovided with a suitable gauge or gauges, one of which isindicated at34, from which the pressure of'the hydraulic fluid in the cylinder ofthe press may be read'by the operator at the control station.

The hydraulic press may comprise a casing35 and a plunger 01 ram 36,'theline of thrust of which is normally parallel to the tension rods 29 andin their plane, and located midway between the rods.

that the abutment beam '30 has its inner face.

I6'securely anchored at their bases to the foundabraced by the diagonaltension rods [8. In addition to the vertical pillars l6, three equallyspaced pillars 'IS str ngly aneh red on the foundation bearing againstthe casing 35 of the hydraulic press, and the work to; be tested isnormally located in the spaceibetween' the press 32 including itsplunger 36, and the abutment beam3l. The

I end of the plunger remote from the beam 30 con-. stitutes a workengaging member. 'By' operating the press so that the ram orplunger 36is forced outwardly, it willbe seen' thatj'a. powerful, compressivestress can be applied to the car structure being tested, the reaction ofwhich istaken en tirely within the rectangular frame formed by. thetension rods 29 and. the abutment beams 30 and ram or plunger having a24 stroke,

To enable the carstructure to be testedat var: ious levels and for thefull width of the car, it is desirable that the compression machine andt'h'e" By reference to Fig. 2,1it will be seen The compression machineshown has a capacity of 2,000,000 lbs.'applied through-a so'f diametercarqbo y vbeing tested -.-may be readil relativel adjusted verticallywith-.respect-to each other. Inthe machine. disclose this. isaccomplished by adjusting. the. position of 1.13116 car body. To thisndr' eca -r odris s pp te .up na, platform. designated generally ,at131, whichmlatform, as shown in Fig. 2. is-located in; the space betweenupport n structu e l4 nd th re n ul frame, 28.of-thecompression;machine,.and of. a n th 1 o re ilyiacc n no e t e 1lon s rail cars.

This platform may comprise a truss consisting of two verticallydeep-beamsta -interbraced by transverse ,beams- 339 and diagonals: to.to form a rigid structure. -Directly above the vertically deep beams38aresecured the rails tI forsupporting the car body. Thesetrails extendthe length ofthe platform and-meet the. rails I3of the track leadingoutside the building so that, when the platform 31 is in the loweredposition, shown .in Fig. 3 .indotted lines, the car to be tested mayberun onto theplatform from the rails 13.

It-will be noted that the.- platform, in this loweredposition,is-disposedin a well sunk beneath the level of thefloor II. The platformis .supported for vertical movement-by six screws 63, each of which is.supported at the bottom in a casing A4 carrying suitable antifrictionthrust and radial bearings.

The manner of. support of the platform 31 from these screws isv clearfrom ,an inspection of Figs. 2,3, 5,-.6' and.'7. ,At the location-ofeachscrew, the platform is provided .with a lateral bracket which isstrongly secured to the-adjacent vertically. de beamv 38,- andhas itsouter end provided with a collar 4'! loosely surrounding the screw. Thiscollarhas a; ball face- 48 resting in a.,correspon1;lingt face 49 formedin the topof a nut 50 carried by the screw 43. The nut is guided by-ears5| integral therewith, projecting into the channel: grooves of members52 secured to the two-I-beamsformingthe pillars IS. The upper end of thescrewl3,;as shown in Fig, 6, isv provided with a head 53 and supportedin a bearing housing .5?! secured .to' the longitudinal beams IT.

The aforedescribed arrangement for supporting the carriage from thescrews avoids binding. and facilitates the smooth operation.

The means forrotating, all-of the scr-ewsdB at a, vlll' iforrn rate, sothat the platform may be maintamed level, may consist, as best shown inFig. 11 and Fig. f1, of shafts 55 connected to drive the opposed pairsof screws 43 through wormsfiii and worm wheels ;.5'I,arrange d in thecasings A l. These transverse shafts55 .may; all be connected together;to :be driven at-the same speed by the lon itudinal shaft58 which maybein sections connected together by coupling members, as 5t,for-,ease'of-assembly. The shaft -58 is driven throughreduction gearingin the gear housing 69 frommotor- 6|. The driving connection between thelongitudinal shaft 58 and .thetransverse shafts 55 is throughbeveledgearing I52 of like ratio.

.Thusit will beseen that all of the screws. 43 foriraising and-loweringthe platform 31 are driven at uniform speed from a common prime mover,thereby preventing binding of parts, and maintaining the platform levelat all times.

The platform 31 is further provided; throughout its.length,.with spacedlaterally extending braces, each-consisting of .a horizontal member62'secured to the top of the adjacent beam 38, and a diagonal member I53secured to the bottom of .saidabeam atitsinnertend and to thehorizontalmember 62 at. tits outer. end. These-braces mediary of spacersleeves I3, surrounding therods. .29 and interposed 'betweenthe nuts.and the 52, 63 support-the longitudinal stringers. .and theqflooring 65which closes; the .space:between the foundation flooring I I of thevbuildingand the rails 4I..of the. platform. This flooring also providesawalkway forthe operators when the platform;- is in any. position. Asshown ini'Fig. 5,: the flooningjd is cut. back to. clear the:liftingscrews 43. v

=As;;is clearlyshownin Fig. 1 andFigJS, the tension rods 29 aresupported;-.by-strutsr'68xfrom the,,beams:ll. The beams ;I'! arestiffened rat the. t p. .by 1 athrough-running central rail and twoparallel .xlateral .rails 61 :which ;latter are broken ,at 3 the pillarsI9 (see Fig. 5). These strutscarrmat; their upper ends, a. groovedroller 69 directlyengaging .the' rod and are-vertically adjustable; topermit accurate. leveling of the rod z9 throughout its length.Moreoventhese struts 68 are removable to permit movement of the abutment.beam 3 I, along the rods 29.

To permitfree: longitudinal movement of. the ends. of the -rods:29remotefrom the hydraulic press-32, the. abutment-beam-3I is mounted-forlongitudinal movement 1upon ayvheeled. carriage 10 which runs onthespaced. rails '66.

A' feature of the-apparatus is the provision for readilyg djusting: the.longitudinal position. of the abutment beam ..3I along; the. tension-rods:;29'- .to accommodate :;the machine -,.to different lengths ofwork. To facilitate .this, each .ofthe ;-rods is provided atwidely;spaced points along its length withshort screw threaded portions'l I,one

of theseportionsbeing at theeXtI'emeend-nf. each rod. Thesescrew-threaded portions are ;of .a larger diameter than. the main vloQdyof ,the rods and are adapted to receive the nuts-"forming the shouldersagainst which the abutmentbar 3I, which is loosely 'slidingly receivedon the rods to permit its movement from end toend thereof,may-bear-either directly or through the interabutment beam 3I. Anynumber of suchspacer sleeves of ,a given length may beemployed inconnection-withthe machine. By using one or more of these .sleevesbetween. the nuts 12 and the. abutment ,beam- 3 I a coarse. adjustmentof the length of .thecompression frame may-be readily made. To effectafiner adjustment ofthe .length, thenuts ,12 are adjusted through theirscrew-threaded. connection with the rods.

As shown in. Fi ..12.. each of the thrust sleeves I3 is formed in twohalves which are hingedtogether at I4 and are secured opposite thehinged point by transverse bolts I5. These sleeves can be readilyremoved from the rods 29 by releasing the bolts 15. On opposite sides ofthe pivot pins, the halves are provided with screw-eyes 16 imnished withlinks 11. After the bolts I5 are disengaged, the overhead crane may bebrought in position to engage its hook I8 with the links" which causesthe halves to swing outwardly about the hinge connection, and the sleevecan be lifted off. In the same way, the sleeves may be readily appliedto the-rods 29. Itwill be noted that they engage the rods loosely sothat they can move endwise under thrust.

I It will thus be seen that, by utilizing these given-length spacingsleeves '13 in combination .with the screw-threaded portions II and nutsI2,

a coarse and fineadjustment of the compression frame 28 is readilyeffected for any one of the widely longitudinally spaced portionsdetermined by the short.screw-threadedportions. I I.

.By reference to;Figs .1 and 2, it will beseen that the tension rods 29may be in two parts, if desired, connectedby a coupling at 19'. Intesting a short length of work; the outer ends of the rods 'may :beremoved by disconnecting the coupling 19. In testing such shorter work,the nuts 12 may be engaged with other of the spaced screw-threadedportions ll located closer to the hydraulic press 32, and the sleeves 73may be utilized. in. this connection in" the same way as hereinbeforedescribed. T 'iTheapparatus may be further providedwith movablethrust-transmitting means arranged between the plunger 38 of the.hydraulicpress and the-"body, as 15, being'tested, and between thetransverse beam 3|. and the opposite end of the body-{I Such means maycomprise a vertical compression-resisting structure 80 of 'a heightextending above the car body; this structure being strongly reinforcedin various locations and provided with pads 8| at its opposite sides forengagement either directlybriithrough spacers, as 8i, respectively, withthe machine and with the body to transmit the thrust directly from themachine to the body being tested. To'allo'w these vertical structures 80tomove longitudinally, they are mounted on"wheeled'carriagesgas82,'running upon the rails 41 of the platform 31. In Figsjlfand 4, theplatform'is shown at two different elevations, showing the body beingtested fdr compression at" two "different levels. "By ut'iliz'ing these'thrust transinitting structures 80, it is possible to test thecompressive strength of the'entirec'ar by bringing the parts" in theproper relaltiori"and"utilizi ng the proper compression pads andfojr'spacers between the structures 80 and'thecar body.

line of thrust may be moved away from'th e centrallocation between therods 29, which is the normal position, out laterally toward either oneofitherods 29. To this end, the hydraulic press is mounted on lateralguideways 83 in the supporting. platform 33, andhas associated therewithand with the platform an adjusting screw 84, which, when operated,permits the shifting of the machine laterally with respect to the plat-7 form. The abutment beam 3i is also provided with a thrust or workengaging member 85 which can be slid laterally on a guideway 86 on thebeam to brin it in line with the ram of the hydraulic press.

In Fig. 9, there is illustrated a set-u of the machine for testing ashort structural element, shown in dot-and-dash lines and indicated bythe numeral 8?. nut i2 has been moved to the screw-threaded portion 'i-lnearest the hydraulicpress 32, and onehalf of the thrust or spacersleeve l3.is shown in. place between the nut 12 and the abutment beamcompressive strength at any elevation and for any '7 O as 88, at oneside of the car body between the car portion of its length by insertinghydraulic jacks,

body and the posts 'lfi'of the structure 14, while applying at the sametime on the opposite side of the car body, between it and the posts onthe opposite side, any suitable reaction member, as

he apparatus of the invention is also provided" with means whereby theaxis of thrust of the machine may be laterally adjusted so that the Inthis view, it will be seen that the 89. f Suitablefspacer'block s, as99, may beinsert'ed between the jacksand'body. f I From the foregoingdescription, it will be seen that the apparatus can be set up quicklyand mom rately to test various-length structures for compressionstrength and to test themat various levels modification withoutdeparting from the spirit" and scope of the invention as set forthin theappended claims. 1 if I What is claimed is: g

1. A testing apparatus for'large structures such as railway carscomprising a, machine includinga rigid rectangular frame comprising;spaced transverse beams and spaced parallel substantially horizontaltension rods tied together by said spaced transverse beams, workengaging members adapted to engage a structure to be tested, and a presshaving its line of thrust parallel to and intermediate the rods andsubstantially in the plane thereof, said press including two members forexerting pressure in opposite directions, one" of said last-namedmembers reacting against one of said beams, and the other one of saidlast; named members having formed thereonone of said work engagingmembers and being opp0s'ed to the other of said beams provided with theother work engaging member to receive the structure to be tested betweenthem, a work support for sup-j porting the structure to be tested inposition for operation thereon by the machine, and meansadapted formoving relative to each other said work engaging members and worksupport substantially vertically and transversely of the plane of theframe to bring different planes of the structure to be tested into theline of thrust of the machine.

2. A testing apparatus for structures such as railway cars comprising acompression machine including a press having two members exertingpressure in opposite directions anda rectangular substantiallyhorizontally arranged rigid frame comprising spaced parallel tensionrods and spaced transverse abutmentbeams connecting the tension rods,the line of thrust of said press and tension rods being arranged in thesame plane with one of said members reactingagainst the inner face ofone of said abutment beams, and the other member providing an abutmentopposed to the other of said transverse abutment beams;

a platform for supporting a structure to be tested in the space formedby said rectangular frame,- and means for relatively moving saidcompression machine and platform substantially vertically and at rightangles to the plane of said frame to bring any level of the structure tobe tested in said' plane.

3. A testing apparatus for large structures such as railway carscomprising a compression machine including a rigid rectangular framecomprising spaced transverse abutment beams and spaced 1 paralleltension rods tied together by said abutment beams, and a press havingits line of" thrust parallel to and normally intermediate the rods andsubstantially in the plane thereof, said press including a pair ofmembers, one of said members} reacting against 1 the inner? face of oneof said abutment beams "and the other memberproviding anabutment opposedto th'e'oth'er of 'saidab'utmentbeamstoreceivea struotureto be testedb'etweenthem; means for holding the structure "to be tested'in'apredetermined position between said rods, said'press being adjustabletransversely to bring its'line of thrust closer to and farther away fromone'of said rods, respectively.

4'." A testing apparatus for railway cars comprising a"'compressionmachine adapted to compress the work in substantially horizontal direction between'its opposite ends, said compression machine beingarrangedand supported at a level above floor level," aplatform normallyarranged at floor level and carrying tracks lining up with tracks fromwhich a car to be'testedmay be run onto the platform, means for raisingsaid platform by predetermined increments to bring various levels of-the car being tested to the compression level of said machine.

5 A testing apparatus for railway cars permitting thecompression-testing of the cars-longitudinally and transversely, thelongitudinal testing means comprising a compressionmachine having meansfor applying pressure to the opposite ends of the car, the lateraltesting means comprising vertical posts arranged at spaced intervalsalong the opposite sides of the car and anchored to a fundation andbraced to said foundation by diagonal members extending from adjacentthe tops of the posts to said foundation, said vertical posts and theirbraces not only acting to support members of the compression machine,but serving also as reaction points for pressure applied laterally ofthe car structure.

6. A testing apparatus for railway cars or the like comprising acompression machine including a rigid rectangular frame comprisingspaced transverse abutment beams and spaced parallel tension rods tiedtogether by said abutment beams, and a press having its line of thrustparallel to and intermediate the rods and substantially in the planethereof, said press transmitting its thrust against the inner face ofone of said abutment beams and providing an abutment opposed to theother of said abutment beams, a platform for supporting a car to betested in the space between said last-named abutment and its opposedabutment beam, means for relatively moving said compression machine andplatform at right angles to the plane of the machine to bring differentlevels of the car into said plane, and rigid vertical structuresarranged one between each of the last-named abutment and the opposedabutment beam and the adjacent car ends, whereby compression thrust ofthe machine may be applied throughout substantially the entire height ofthe car being tested,

7. A testing apparatus for railway cars or the like comprising acompression machine including a rigid rectangular frame comprisingspaced transverse abutment beams and spaced parallel tension rods tiedtogether by said abutment beams, and a press having its line of thrustparallel to and intermediate the beams and substantially in the planethereof, said press including a means transmitting its thrust againstthe inner face of one of said abutment beams, and another meansproviding an abutment opposed to the other of said abutment beams, aplatform carrying rails for supporting a car to be tested in the spacebetween said last-named abutment and its opposed abutment beam, meansfor relatively moving said compression machine and platform 10 at rightangles to the plane of the-machine to bring different levels of thecar-into said plane, a rigid vertical structure movably, supported :onthe rails of said platform-one at-e-ach end and arranged between each ofsaid last-named abutment and the opposed abutment beam and theadjacentcar ends, whereby thecomp ression'th-rust of the machine may. be appliedthroughout substantially the entire height of the car being tested 8. Atesting apparatus for-railway carsorthe like comprising i a floor-levelfoun'dation, spaced parallel rows of pillars-anchored'to said-foundationand braced from their upperportions .to the foundation by inclinedbraces, a platform forsupporting a carto be tested disposed betweensaidrows of pillars,- means associated with certain of said pillars forraisingsand lowering'z-the platform and guiding .it in its vertical-movement,--a com pression machine supported in 1 part from said pillarsand in partfrom a raised platform at one end of said-rows ofpillars,said compression machine comprising a rectangulanframeincluding a pairof rods, one supported by. each row of-pillars, and spaced transverseabutment 13831115, 0118 of which is supported from said pillars, saidone of said transverse abutment beams and the rods for most of theirlength being mounted on rollers permitting longitudinal movement, thecompression machine further comprising a Dress mounted on said raisedplatform and having its thrust axis paralleling the rods and arrangedto, transmit its thrust through one of its relatively movable members tothe inner face of the adjacent transverse abutment beam, the other ofits relatively movable members providing an abutment in opposed relationto the other abutment beam and spaced therefrom to receive the structurebeing tested between them.

9. A testing apparatus for testing structures under compression,comprising a compression machine including transverse abutment beams andspaced longitudinal tension rods interconnected at spaced points by saidbeams, and a press forming an abutment opposed to one of said abutmentbeams and reacting against the other of said beams, a structure to betested being received between the press and its opposed abutment beam,said opposed abutment beam being adjustable along said rods, said rodsbeing provided at spaced locations along their length with diametricallyenlarged threaded portions of relatively short length, spacer membersand nuts on said rods adapted to take the thrust from said last-namedabutment beam and transmit it to said rods, said nuts cooperating withthe threads at any one of said locations and with said spacer members,depending upon the length of the structure being tested,

10. A testing apparatus for testing structures especially largestructures such as railway cars under compression, comprising acompression machine including transverse abutment beams and spacedlongitudinal tension rods interconnected at spaced points by said beams,and a press reacting against one of said abutment beams, a structure tobe tested being received between said press and the other abutment beam,said last-named beam being shiftable along said rods, longitudinallyadjustable shoulders on the rods against which the abutment beam reacts,and readily removable and replaceable spacer sleeves on said rods forinsertion between said beam and said shoulders.

11. A testing apparatus for testing structures 11 under compression,comprising a eompression machine including transverse abutment be hisand spaced longitudinal tension lfqqs int? f hect'ed'at spaced wint bsaid beams,"one of sai d beams carryirfg'a thrust member adjustablethereon in a. direction transteisehf to said rods to various positions, and a[press acting between the other of said abutment beains and, through thestructure being tested,- thethrust member of said first-named beam,-said press beih g a'djustably movable transversely' of thedirectionofits thrust, whereby it may be aligned withthe various transversepositions; of the thrust member, and means for so' adjusting 's a'id'press any adjustable PdSitiOfi; 4

12 In a testing apparatusfor largestructures such'as railwayfcarsj afoundation structure; a rigid rectangular frame eo'm c risin gfspacedtrans: erse beams and's'paeed g'enerallyparaHel tension rods tiedtogether by said spaeed; transverse thrust parallel to and intermediatethero'ds and substantially in the plane "thereof said pressure exertingmeans acting between one of said beams and, through a structure tofbetested, the other 20 beams, pressure exerting means having a line of ofsaid beams; said frame vand said pressure exerting meansbeing'supportedfhy' said mun 1 tion structure; a. work support; on saidfoundation structure for supporting .th efl, structure to be tested inposition forfoperation'thereon by'the apparatus and. means adaptedfor'relatively'moiiing one of said pressure exerting means andsaid worksupport rela ti to the other and to itlie foundation struetu infadirection transve ly of the plane ofth'e' frame tobrin'g differentplanes of the structure .1301 .bejtested. into..the line of thrust.. i

I The following ref're file of this patentt v 'UN'ITED Number- M L Nam Ug a 17,383 Lowthorp May-26,1185? 278,916 Emery- June5; 1883 1,890,923 IWilsor1- Dec;13, 1,922- 1,865,070 Amsler June 28,1932. 1,985,598

Dec. 25,1934;

